Wine lovers to flock to Royal Oak

Wine improves with age and organizers of Royal Oak's Wine Stroll are trying to do the same with the ninth annual event set for May 18.

Because Wine Stroll has sold out the past five years, the number of tickets available has been increased from 1,500 to 1,700, and a couple of venues have been added, said Carrie O'Neill, president of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association.

Twenty-one restaurants and retailers will be pairing the fruit of the vine with signature hors d'oeuvres from noon to 5 p.m. the third Saturday of May. The cost of tickets to sample the food and drink remains $40 a person.

"It really is first come, first served," said Stephanie McIntyre, event manager for the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority, which puts on the event with the RORA.

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The past three years, no tickets have been available on the day of the event. If there are any tickets left, they will cost which cost $50.

"Sales are a little faster than last year's pace," McIntyre said Thursday. "We're confident we will sell out again."

A busload of visitors from Windsor has bought their tickets already, she added.

"I think people have been cooped up all winter and they want to get outside and get moving around," McIntyre said. "Royal Oak is a nice place to do that and everyone has a safe and fun time at this event."

All proceeds after expenses will go to the Boys & Girls Club of South Oakland. Last year, the wine stroll raised $10,000 for the club dubbed "a safe place to learn and grow."

The club pulls special one-day permits from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for the retailers to offer wine samples with the food. Participating retailers include Citizen Yoga, Creative Art Studio, Infinity Jewelers, Metals in Time and Stella Boutique.

Rock on Third is among 16 bars and restaurants on the Wine Stroll.

"We're serving a nice red with tortellini and a Bolognaise sauce," said O'Neill, who is a co-owner.

She selected Lost Angel's Mischief to go with the pasta dish. It's a fruity blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

"I try to offer a fun label and reasonably priced product so if a customer wants to buy a bottle to go, they can," O'Neill said. "We have a to-go license, so if you don't finish a bottle of wine you can take it home as long as the cork is flush with the bottle."